Printing Is Just Part of What We Do

As a full-service printing firm, we provide many business-to-business services you might not expect to find under one roof. Yes, we print just about any business form imaginable, but we also provide many collateral sales and marketing services to help you grow your business.

Here's a list of some popular services we provide.

Welcome to Our Amazing Resource Library!

Did you know we have a large collection of online resources available for your creative inspiration? Our free resource library includes creative graphic design ideas, sales and marketing solutions, management ideas, and best practices for managing a successful company.

When You Need Help, You Can Find it Here

Got a question about printing or need some help preparing your files for print? You might not know much about printing, but we do, and we're only too happy to share that knowledge, experience, and advice with you. After all, we want to make sure you look good on paper.

Important Details

Not Your Ordinary Neighborhood Printing Firm

To say Gerald Printing purchases and prints on beautiful papers for businesses around the world is very true. That's the essence of what we do - but it hardly tells the whole story.

We’re So Much More Than What We Print

We're not just enthusiastic printers of business forms and sales and marketing materials, we're dedicated graphic arts professionals who seek to use our creative skills to improve the results of your printed documents and sales and marketing materials. How can we help you reach your goals?

Q.

What File Formats do you accept?

A.

We will be happy to accept all industry-standard graphic file formats, including Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Publisher, PDF, TIFF, EPS, and JPG. We regularly work with other file formats as well, so don't hesitate to contact us if you don't see your preferred file format listed here. Also consider using FastTrack, which effortlessly converts all files into an industry standard PDF format. FastTrack is easy to use, powerful, and free ... and it's available from our FastTrack page.

Q.

What files do I need to send you for printing my document?

A.

That depends on the type of document you're sending. If you're providing a print-ready PDF, that PDF is the only file you'll need to send. However, if your document was created elsewhere (in a page layout program, for example), you will need to include the page layout document, fonts, and any image files used in your design, as well.

Q.

What is a PDF file?

A.

Documents in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) preserve the exact look and content of the originals, complete with fonts and graphics, and can be printed, distributed by e-mail, and shared and stored on network systems (including the Internet) for others to use and view. When properly created, PDF files have proven to be an excellent method for generating quality printing.

Q.

Why do I need to include separate files for the images in my document?

A.

Page-layout programs do not actually save the images you insert as part of the document. Instead, they point to the image files on your computer. If you send us only the document file you created in the page-layout software, we may be unable to print the images it references. To get around that, make sure you save the entire package. Most page-layout programs will have that as a File option. If yours doesn't, please remember to send us the actual art files that your project uses in addition to the document file.

Q.

Why do I need to include the fonts with my project file? Don't you already have them?

A.

While it's true that we have a large font collection in-house and probably have fonts of the same name as those in your project, fonts from different manufacturers may not have the same characteristics even if they share the same name. These inconsistencies can produce unexpected output. The only way to guarantee correct output is for us to use the same fonts as you did, so please include your fonts.

Q.

What file format should I use to save the images for my document?

A.

There are many graphic file formats available and each format was developed for a specific use. The file formats developed for use in the printing industry are the Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), as well as native Photoshop files. Graphics in other formats will need to be converted to TIFF or EPS.

Q.

Where can I find my fonts for inclusion?

A.

Many page-layout programs will include your fonts automatically when you save your project as a package (typically a File menu option). If your software doesn't have this option, you can convert the fonts to outlines, or rasterize your document, which converts it all to pixels. This will eliminate the need to send us your fonts. However, we will not be able to make text changes for you if you choose this route.

If you prefer sending us the fonts and your software doesn't package them automatically...

On a Windows-based computer, fonts are typically located in the main drive (C: on most systems), in Windows/Fonts. Additionally, you may have a folder named psfonts directly on the C: drive.

Fonts in the psfonts folder are PostScript fonts and require two separate files to accurately define a font's appearance. The first file, found in the psfonts folder, ends with a .pfb extension. The second matching file is found in the psfonts/pfm folder and ends with a .pfm extension. The font name can be accurately determined by double-clicking the .pfb or .pfm file.

On a Macintosh with OS X, your fonts can be found in either /Library/Fonts or /Users/(username)/Library/Fonts.

If you use a font management utility on either platform, fonts are found in a location specified by the utility.

Q.

Should I compress my files before submitting them to your website?

A.

Yes, we recommend compressing your files before sending them through the website. Compressing lets you combine multiple files into one compressed archive file. This allows you to easily select and send (and keep track of) just one file instead of multiple files. The single compressed archive file is smaller than the total size of all your uncompressed files, allowing it to reach us quicker.

Q.

How do I compress my files (Mac)?

A.

Compressing files is a fairly straightforward process and doesn't require an advanced degree in "geek." After selecting (highlighting) the files and/or folders you wish to compress, use one of these methods to create an archive of the compressed files:

Control-click on the file(s)/folder(s) and choose Create Archive.

Go to the Action menu (the button that looks like a gear up in the Finder window's toolbar), and choose Create Archive.

Your computer will create a new file, with the file extension ".zip." This is the compressed file you should send to us.

Q.

How do I compress my files (PC)?

A.

Compressing files is easy in Windows, too. Select (highlight) the files and/or folders you want to compress, right-click, scroll down to the "Send to" item, and select "Compressed (zipped) Folder" from the submenu that appears. Your computer will create a new file, with the file extension ".zip." This is the compressed file you should send to us.

Q.

What is a "bleed"?

A.

In printing, your products are often printed on a larger sheet than the final product, then cut to size. If you have colors on your product that stretch to the edge of the document, it's best to let those colors stretch, or "bleed" past the edge of the product size. That ensures your colors go all the way to the edge of your document.

Q.

What resolution should my image files have?

A.

Resolution is measured in dots per inch (DPI). The more dots per inch, the sharper your image will be. For printed products, the minimum resolution is typically 300dpi.

e-commerce summaries

Instant Online Pricing

How many times have you visited a website, looking for a product, only to get frustrated because no pricing information is available? Not on our website. Our instant pricing tool is simple to use. See quickly how each decision you make—from paper stock to ink choices to bindery and folding options—affects your bottom line. You'll get a quick and accurate price every time.

e-commerce function

Online Estimating

Need an estimate on a printing project, before you commit to having it done? Whether you're planning a simple piece with few requirements or a more complex project that involves advanced services such as design, bindery, mailing, or marketing, we'll provide a quick, accurate estimate to help you plan your budget.

Online Ordering

Order your printing safely and securely straight from our website. Our order forms make it easy, and reorders are a breeze. Plus, you can track your orders all the way through to completion and view your complete order history anytime. If you order the same printing products frequently, ask us about creating a document library to save even more time.

Send a File

Everyone uses the Internet to exchange information. But what if the information you need to exchange is in the form of a huge graphic file? No problem! Our website lets you send files of virtually any size effortlessly and securely, without the hassle of a traditional FTP. Plus, our email confirmation and online job tracking system eliminate the worry of not knowing if the file made it through.

Online Proofing

We all want things to be quick and easy, don't we? Our online proofing system is both. In addition to the instant proofing options available with uDesignIT! and FastTrack, we provide online digital proofs for orders that require them. When a proof is ready, we email a link, so you can view the proof securely on our website. While there, you can approve the proof, reject it, or suggest changes - all from the same secure screen. What could be simpler than that?

Customer Portals

The first time you do business on our website, we'll automatically create an account for you in our Online Print Center. There, you'll be able to track orders, view order histories, update credentials, view proofs, and reorder your printing. We can even create a branded portal for your entire organization if you'd like, complete with branches, document libraries, company managers, order approval hierarchies, custom notifications, inventory management, and more.

e-commerce function

Document Library

The document library is our term for the set of online order forms unique to your company or to specific departments or branches within your organization. Each item represents a specific printed piece. For example, if you have 10 different printed forms that get used throughout your company, you'd have 10 separate document library items set up - one for each form. Document libraries make it easy to order, track, and inventory your most frequently used printed items.

uDesignIT!

uDesignIT! makes it easy to personalize "templated" items, such as business cards, that are unique to your organization. Items appear as part of your document library and include an instant proof that updates automatically as you fill out the form. Changes are not limited to text alone. Images, backgrounds, colors, and fonts can all be made variable, as well, for even greater flexibility.

FastTrack

Want a simple way to send us your digital files without worrying about fonts and images getting left behind? Want to "print" your files straight to our website from within any program-even if we don't have the same software, version, or fonts as you? Want to rest easy knowing your printing will look exactly like what you see onscreen? Want real-time feedback that lets you troubleshoot and eliminate production snags before they happen? Of course you do. We can help.

resource summaries

The Ideas Collection

We all have times when we could use a little inspiration in our work. If you're running short on ideas, we're here to help with articles and insights meant to ignite your creative fire. From marketing tips to creative how-to's, you're sure to find something to spark the imagination.

What's New?

We live in an age of unprecedented access to information. Unfortunately, trying to keep track of all that data can be overwhelming. Twice a week, we provide executive summaries of some of the most interesting articles and posts we find from popular business websites and blogs.

Our List of Greatest Treasures

We all have websites we rely on every day for information relevant to our businesses and lives. Then there are the exceptional sites -- the ones we stumble on occasionally that are sooooooooooooo good, we make sure to save them in a special place for future reference. Over the years, we've built up a pretty good trove of website gold, and now we're sharing that bounty with you, our customers.

Popular Graphic Arts Software

Keeping track of the latest software upgrades is enough to drive anybody crazy... unless you have access to our easy-to-use list of the most popular graphic arts software. What a helpful reference tool!